FINA, the international governing body for swimming, has reacted to the new “gender mainstreaming policy” adopted on Sunday, setting the standard for transgender participation in the sport. The “gender mainstreaming policy” will only allow swimmers who have passed the age of 12 to participate in women’s competitions. FINA members voted 71.5% in favor of the new policies. There was also a proposal for a new “open competition policy”. The agency said it was setting up “a new working group that will spend the next six months looking at the most effective ways to create this new category”. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE AT FOXNEWS.COM In its 24-page policy released on Sunday, FINA clarified how trans men and women will be allowed to compete under the new rules. LGBTQ + rights groups and other swimmers said the policy would hurt trans athletes. “FINA’s new eligibility criteria for transgender and transgender athletes are discriminatory, harmful, unscientific and inconsistent with ILO 2021 principles. If we really want to protect women’s sports, we must include all women,” she said. Athlete Ally. group for the integration of trans people in sports, he wrote in a tweet. The interim president of the Campaign for Human Rights, Johnny Madison, also spoke about FINA’s decision. “This sudden and discriminatory decision is a blatant attack on trans athletes who have worked to comply with long-standing policies that have allowed them to participate for years without any problems. This policy is an example of swimming organizations retreating into the avalanche of malicious “We urge FINA to reconsider its policy and ensure the inclusion of all athletes – including trans women – and to allow them to participate in non-discriminatory, abusive and harassing sports,” the statement said. of Madison. Jonathan Van Ness was among those who spoke out against FINA policies. (Jemal Countess / Getty Images) “To young athletes who may be frustrated by this policy, know that we know and believe that every young person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and that trans kids, like their friends, deserve the same opportunities to learn sportsmanship. , discipline and teamwork and build a sense of belonging with their peers ”. AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING STAR SUPPORTS FINA’S “GENDER INTEGRATION POLICY” Others also appeared on social media. FINA has said that transgender men are eligible to compete in FINA competitions and set a world record in the men’s category unless: “For the water polo and scuba diving disciplines, the athlete must provide FINA with a risk-taking form signed and dated by the athlete or, if the athlete is a minor, by his / her legal representative” or “All athletes undergoing treatment which includes Testosterone or other anabolic substances as part of female-to-male sex reassignment hormone therapy is required to receive a Therapeutic Exception (TUE) for this treatment in accordance with FINA Doping Control Rules. “ Transgender women and athletes whose legal gender and / or gender identity is female can compete in FINA-approved events if they can “demonstrate FINA’s comfortable satisfaction that they have not experienced any part of male adolescence beyond From Tanner Stage 2 or before the age of 12, whichever is later. “ Leah Thomas is looking to win the women’s 500 yards freestyle during the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships at the McAuley Aquatic Center on the Georgia Institute of Technology campus March 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Mike Comer / NCAA Photos via Getty Images) The athlete must provide evidence that he has “a complete lack of androgen sensitivity and therefore has not been able to experience male puberty” or “He is androgen sensitive but male puberty has been suppressed starting at Tanner stage 2 or before the age of 12” , which is later, and since then have consistently maintained their serum (or plasma) testosterone levels below 2.5 nmol / L “or” An involuntary deviation from the requirement below 2.5 nmol / L may lead to rejection of the results and / or in a future period of inadequacy or “deliberate deviation from” The requirement of less than 2.5 nmol / L FINA DRC for intentional breaches of anti-doping rules including anabolic steroids. “ Transgender athletes who do not meet fitness standards can compete in “any open events” that the body could develop in the future. David Gerrard, FINA’s top medical official, said on Monday that the international government’s new elite swimming policy for trans athletes was the “best outcome” for the sport’s future. “In my opinion, FINA’s approach to this was very enlightened, it was very balanced, it was informed,” Gerrard told Reuters. “He recognized the athlete’s voice, the scientific, objective evidence and the somewhat more subjective human rights (and) legal issues, which were strongly supported by the lawyers present. Its logo is the international governing body for swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming and offshore swimming, FINA appears during the FINA World Championships in Rome on July 25, 2009. (MARTIN BURtyU) Images / AFP “I hope this model is something that is being considered by other sports.” Gerard, a former New Zealand Olympian, added that justice in the sport was a major issue FINA was trying to address and predicted it would remain an issue. CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION “It’s an issue we need to address and the debate will continue,” he said. “But when it comes to justice and security, you have to draw a line in the sand.” Ryan Gaydos is the sports editor for Fox News and Fox Business. Story tips can be sent to [email protected]
